ESA Observing the Earth

Paving the way for carbon mission

Scientists met in California this summer to test new methods for measuring greenhouse gases. This joint effort helps to show how ESA’s CarbonSat candidate satellite mission could identify sources of carbon dioxide and methane and how they disperse in the atmosphere.

Bringing Earth observation to the everyday user

Using satellites for improving the exploitation of water resources is just one of the innovative ideas developed over the week-long 'camp' dedicated to creating mobile apps drawing on Earth observation data. 

Lake Gairdner

Bardarbunga belches

Satellites are showing clouds of sulphur dioxide from Iceland’s restive Bardarbunga volcano.

Remote learning

Remote learning

Remote learning

Lake Chad

Earth from Space

Earth from Space

Radar vision maps Napa Valley earthquake

Sentinel-1A has added yet another string to its bow. Radar images from this fledgling satellite have been used to map the rupture caused by the biggest earthquake that has shaken northern California in 25 years.

A wing for Sentinel-2A

Imaging Earth’s land with unprecedented speed and resolution has come another step closer as the next Sentinel satellite has been given its solar wing and started a strenuous six-month test campaign to make sure that it is fit for launch next April.

Sentinel-1 poised to monitor motion

Although it was only launched a few months ago and is still being commissioned, the new Sentinel-1A radar satellite has already shown that it can be used to generate 3D models of Earth’s surface and will be able to closely monitor land and ice surface deformation.

Ice sheet highs, lows and loss

Measurements from ESA’s CryoSat mission have been used to map the height of the huge ice sheets that blanket Greenland and Antarctica and show how they are changing. New results reveal combined ice volume loss at an unprecedented rate of 500 cubic kilometres a year.

Summer school success

Young Earth scientists from all over the world have wrapped up their two-week course at ESA’s ESRIN centre for Earth observation in Frascati, Italy.

Monitoring volcanoes

Sea of sand

Earth from Space

Costa Concordia tow

Lifetime of gravity measurements heralds new beginning

Although ESA’s GOCE satellite is no more, all of the measurements it gathered during its life skirting the fringes of our atmosphere, including the very last as it drifted slowly back to Earth, have been drawn together to offer new opportunities for science.

Monitoring water quality down under

Former Copernicus Masters competition winner EOMAP has launched a new web-based application that provides daily maps of Australia’s coastal water quality.

Cal Madow

Earth from Space

Versatility extends life of water mission

SMOS is not only delivering key information on soil moisture and ocean salinity for science, but its data are also being used for a growing number of practical applications. Reflecting this versatility along with new synergistic opportunities, the mission will now remain operational until at least 2017.

Texcoco

Doubling radar vision of Earth

Following a contract signed with Arianespace today, the second Sentinel-1 satellite is now set to join its identical twin sister in orbit in early 2016, optimising the mission’s global coverage to manage the environment and improve everyday lives.

Earth from Space

Satellites for sports

Rio

How does a beer cooler help understand climate?

While engineers have almost finished building the first Sentinel-3 satellite for ocean forecasting and marine safety, a beer cooler has an unusual role in supporting the long-term record of sea-surface temperatures.

Shifting land won't stop your journey

Subsidence, rockfalls and landslides threaten potentially devastating human and economic consequences across Europe – but satellites can help.  

Flood map

Earth from Space

Magnetic field update

Swarm reveals Earth’s changing magnetism

The first set of high-resolution results from ESA’s three-satellite Swarm constellation reveals the most recent changes in the magnetic field that protects our planet.

Monitoring climate change from space

How do measurements from satellites flying above Earth provide essential information on the effects of climate change on our planet? Scientific and political organisations considered the question in London today.

Special delivery from CryoSat

New data products from ESA’s ice mission open new doors for scientists studying oceans.

Where is it?

Space up your app with satellite data

Calling all app developers: register today for the opportunity to spend a week at ESA developing news ideas and concepts for mobile apps using satellite Earth observation data.